Spruce tips

Anyone with experience know how big the spruce tips should be before you pick them or how to tell if they are too old?

Also, anyone in the pacific northwest know when to expect to pick them? I'm hoping to brew with them fresh... But I live at sea level with mountains 20 minutes away so I should have some leniency on the time.

I'm recollecting from my years in grad school in Seattle (1987-1991) when I brewed half a dozen spruce beers. I used to pick them in the Cascades while hiking, typically in June or July. I'm sure their available at sea level much earlier. The crucial thing is they should be soft and bright green compared to the older blue-green growth. If there not still soft, it's too late. I don't know that you can be too early.

Does any one have a good spruce recipe?